Shaker bed system

ABSTRACT

A shaker system including a plurality of shaker beds disposed in side-by-side relation and having head ends and tail ends. A plurality of first support links are pivotally connected to the head ends and extend upwardly therefrom. A plurality of second support links are pivotally connected to the tail ends and extend upwardly from the tail ends. The upwardly extending ends of said first and second support links are pivotally connected to support members and drive means is provided for imparting reciprocatable movement to the shaker beds relative to the support members. Adjustment means is provided for controlling the rate and direction of material flow along the beds by altering the paths of reciprocatable movement thereof.

United States Patent 2/1959 Peterson........................

Primary Examiner- Robert W. Jenkins Attorney-Naylor & Neal W m r G 4 5 9 .l 3 21 24 34 77 22 [72] Inventor Joseph A. Amori 1270 Pine Ave., San Jose, Calitl. 951125 ml 9% 1 m 19% ZAD 0. d N m L n www a AP? 1]] 25 224 [[l ABSTRACT: A shaker system including a plurality of shaker [54] SHAKER BED SYSTEM 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. US. (31......

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[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1969 Slovic...........................

reciprocatable nioyement thereof.

PATENTEB DEC 1 4 19m SHEET 1 [IF 3 H M T M N Wu PATENIEU DEC 1 MRI SHEET 2 0F 3 s57 'ZY W/ ATTM NE V5 SHAKER lBlElD SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the art of product grading, and more particularly, to a multiple bed shaker system which enables the graders to shake the product being processed and grade the same with high efficiency.

In many of the prior art grader devices there is a tendency for the machine to have set up therein harmful vibrations which may tend to injure the machine or adversely affect the operation thereof such as by causing the machine to creep over the floor during operation.

In addition to the aforesaid difficulties which are inherent in many of the prior art devices of this type, a further complication exists in that many of said prior art mechanisms do not readily lend themselves to operational adjustment, such as may be necessary to adapt the operation of the machine to materials of various grades and types.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved multiple bed shaker system wherein vibratory forces during the operation thereof are maintained at a minimum.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multiple bed shaker system wherein the paths of movement of said beds may be readily adjusted to control the rate and direction of material flow with respect thereto.

The above-noted and other objects have been attained in accordance with the teachings of the present invention by providing a shaker system having a plurality of shaker beds disposed in side-by-side relation and having head ends and tail ends. A plurality of first support links are pivotally connected to the head ends and extend upwardly therefrom. A plurality of second support links are pivotally connected to the tail ends and extend upwardly from the tail ends. The first and second support links are pivotally connected at the upwardly extending ends thereof to support members. The system additionally comprises drive means including at least one pitman arm pivotally connected to each of said shaker beds for imparting reciprocatable movement thereto about substantially horizontal axes extending between the locations of pivotal interconnection between the support links and the support members. In addition, adjustment means is provided for moving the support members relative to the locations of interconnection between said pitman arms and the shaker beds whereby the paths of reciprocatable movement of the shaker beds may be selectively varied.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-noted and other objects of this invention will be understood from the following description taken with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view illustrating a preferred form of the machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective showing semischematically the bed head and tail supporting means as well as selected details of the drive means and adjustment means;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and illustrating one substantially extreme position of adjustment of a selected shaker bed;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but illustrating the other substantially extreme position of adjustment of the shaker bed;

FIG. 5 is a partly broken away top plane view of the machine of FIG. l; and

FIG. 6 is a view, essentially in section, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the preferred form of the invention comprises a frame (generally indicated by reference numeral 110) including a plurality of upstanding legs R2 integrally connected at the tops thereof to an upper support frame. The upper support frame includes two longitudinally extending frame members 14 interconnected by a plurality of frame crossmembers l6al6d. Depending downwardly from longitudinally extending frame members 14 as shown are vertically disposed frame members mix-116d. Crossbracing mem bers, e.g., members 22 and 24, interconnect legs 12 and the vertically disposed frame members in the manner illustrated.

Disposed between legs 12 of the frame are shaker units or beds 28 and 36. The construction of the shaker units is the same. Each unit includes a head end wall 34, a perforate bottom wall 36 and sidewalls 40 and 42. Walls 36, 40 and 42 terminate at the ends thereof opposite the head end walls to form open tail ends as may best be seen with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Pivotally connected to the sidewalls of each shaker unit are a plurality of link arms. As may best be seen with reference to FIG. 2, 3, 4 and 6 the link arms associated with each shaker unit or bed are disposed in pairs adjacent both the head ends and tail ends thereof. In the interest. of clarity the link arms disposed adjacent the head end of shaker bed 28 are designated 'by means of reference numeral 46 while the link arms disposed adjacent the tail end of such bed are designated by means of reference numeral 29. By the same token, the link arms disposed adjacent the head end of shaker unit or bed 30 are designated by means of reference: numeral 59 while those link arms disposed adjacent the tail end thereof are designated by means of reference numeral 52.

The manner in which the link arms are pivotally interconnected to the shaker beds may best be seen with reference to FIG. 6 wherein connector pins 60 are illustrates as being secured to the sidewalls of the shaker beds in any desired manner. The pins pass through associated throughbores formed in the link arms with relative dimensions being such that the link arms may freely pivotally move in a vertical plane about the connector pins. The link arms are also provided with throughbores at the upper ends thereof which receive support shafts 62. The support shafts at the respective ends thereof pass through apertures formed in brackets 64. The dimensions of the support shafts and the link arm upper throughbores is such that the link arms may pivotally move with respect to the shafts. In this manner,'it may readily be seen that the shaker beds 28 and 30 upon application of an. endwise force directed thereto may freely move with respect to said brackets 64.

The brackets associated with the link arms secured at both the head ends and tail ends of the shaker beds are secured, respectively, to support members 70 and 72 which extend across the full width of the frame 110 in the manner which may best be seen with reference to FIGS. ll, 5 and 6. At the outermost ends thereof the support members, which are of a generally channel-type construction, are turned downwardly as at 76 and 78 in FIG. 6. The downwardly turned portions 76 and 78 are provided as may best be seen with reference to this latter figure with threaded throughbores 60 and 62.

Mounted on each side of frame it) at both the front and rear thereof are bracket pairs 66 and 68 with each pair slidably accommodating therein and maintaining in a generally horizontal condition adjustment shafts 90, 92, 94 and 96 which are threaded along the middle extent thereof (see FIG. 5). The threaded portions of the adjustment shafts are in cooperative engagement with the threaded thr'ough'bores 80 and 92 of the support members 70 and 72. It may thus be seen that the threaded adjustment shafts are disposed in pairs with shafts and 96 being positioned adjacent to the: tail ends of the shaker beds and shafts 92 and 94 being disposed adjacent to the head ends of said shaker units.

At the outermost extent thereof each of the threaded adjustment shafts has affixed thereto sprockets (FIG. 11) with a continuous link chain 102 being disposed about the sprockets associated with adjustment shafts 92 and 94 and a continuous link chain 104 being disposed about the sprockets associated with adjustment shafts 96 and 96. Adjustment shafts 94 and 96 are respectively provided with handles 106 and 108. It will readily be appreciated that upon manual turning of the handles and hence the turning of the adjustment shafts directly connected thereto, the link chains 102 and 104 will cooperate with the sprocket wheels to turn the adjustment shafts on the other side of frame a like degree. In other words, movement of the adjustment shafts in response to turning of the handles will be done in pairs. By virtue of the threaded cooperation between support member 70 and adjustment shafts 92 and 94 and between support member 72 and adjustment shafts 90 and 96, rotation of the handles will cause the support members to move either toward or away from one another along a generally horizontal plane depending upon whether or not the handles are rotated in a clockwise or an anticlockwise fashion. The purpose of this adjustment arrangement will be brought out in greater detail below.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 a drive arrangement is provided whereby the desired movement may be imparted to shaker units or beds 28 and 30. Mounted upon crossmember 16d is a motor 110 which may be of any suitable construction. Passing about the output sheave 114 and interconnecting same with a drive sheave 118 is a belt 120. The drive sheave 118 is fixedly interconnected to a drive shaft 122 which is rotatively journaled in bearings 126. Keyed to the drive shaft 122 are eccentric pairs 130 and 132. Eccentric pair 130 is ohset [80 from eccentric pair 132 on said shaft. Interconnected to eccentrics 130 by means of bearings 136 are pitman arms 138. In like fashion, bearings 140 provide an interconnection between eccentrics 132 and a pair of pitman arms 142. At the other ends thereof pitman arms 138 and 132 are pivotally mounted on pins 146 which are secured to and extend inwardly from the sidewalls of each of the shaker units or beds 28 and 30.

The operation of the above-illustrated preferred embodiment will now be described. Upon actuation of motor 110 the drive shaft 122, as well as the eccentrics 130 and 132 associated therewith, rotate. In cooperation with the pitman arms 138 and 142 the eccentrics impart to the shaker units or beds 28 and 30 reciprocatable motion relative to support members 70 and 82. Since eccentrics 130 are disposed 180 out of phase with respect to eccentrics 132 bed 28 will be moving in a generally forward direction when bed 30 is moving toward the rear and vice versa. The fact that the beds move in different directions at a given point in time greatly adds to the overall stability of the device since the vibratory forces caused by such movement tend to cancel each other out. Although only two shaker units or beds are illustrated in the disclosed preferred embodiment it should of course be understood that the same principle of operation would apply in situations where more than two beds are present. For example, in the event three shaker units or beds are employed in the device, there would be three sets of eccentrics employed on the drive shaft angularly disposed 120 out of phase.

The throw or paths of movement of the shaker beds may be varied by means of the previously described adjustment mechanism in a manner which may most readily be seen with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Such feature of course adds to the overall versatility of the mechanism since the rate and pattern of movement of material in the shaker units may be controlled as desired in accordance with operating conditions encountered. Such adjustments may, for example, be necessary when using the machine to grade different materials. According to the invention adjustment of the path of motion of the shaker beds is accomplished through the rotation of handles 106 and 108. Such rotation causes both threaded adjustment shafts associated with each handle to also move in a rotary fashion thereby moving the associated support members relative to the locations of interconnection between the drive means pit- 'man arms and the shaker beds. As may clearly be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 such support member movement displaces the uppermost extent of the link arms with respect to their points of interconnection with the sidewalls of the shaker beds. It will be understood that this adjustment displaces the axes of rotation about which the shaker beds reciprocate. When the link arms are inclined as-shown in FIG. 3 movement of the shaker bed is generally along the path indicated by means of the double-headed arrows 150, material flow being toward the tail ends of the units. When the link arms are inclined as shown in FIG. 4, the path of movement of the associated shaker unit is substantially as indicated by the double-ended arrows 152. When the link arms are in this latter position movement of material is generally toward the head ends of the units, providing for a higher rate of material discharge through the perforate bottom walls thereof which are used to grade the material.

It is of course to be understood that the paths of movement of the shaker beds may be altered to other than those illus trated. For example, in the event the support members are adjusted so that the link arms are disposed vertically there will be essentially no movement of material toward the discharge end of the units. The fact that the link arms associated with the head ends and tail ends may be separately adjusted of course provides additional versatility in this regard.

With reference to the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes and modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a shaker system including a plurality of shaker beds disposed in side-by-side relation and having head ends and tail ends, the combination comprising:

a plurality of first support links pivotally connected to said head ends and extending upwardly therefrom;

a plurality of second support links pivotally connected to said tail ends and extending upwardly therefrom;

support members pivotally connected to the upwardly extending ends of said first and second support links;

drive means including at least one pitman arm pivotally connected to each of said shaker beds for imparting reciprocatable movement thereto about substantially horizontal axes extending between the locations of pivotal interconnection between said support links and said support members; and

adjustment means for moving said support members relative to the locations of interconnection between said pitman arms and said shaker beds whereby the paths of reciprocatable movement of said shaker beds may be selectively varied.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said shaker beds includes sidewalls extending between said head ends and tail ends, said pitman arms being pivotally connected in pairs to said sidewalls at one end thereof, said pitman arms at the other end thereof being connected to eccentrics mounted on a rotatable drive shaft which impart reciprocatable movement to said pitman arms and said shaker beds, with said eccentrics connected with each pair of pitman arms being angularly offset on said drive shaft with respect to the eccentrics connected with the other pairs of said pitman arms so that movement of each of said shaker beds is out of phase with the movement of the other of said shaker beds.

3. In a shaker system including a plurality of shaker beds disposed in side-by-side relation and having head ends and tall ends, the combination comprising:

a plurality of first support links pivotally connected to said head ends and extending upwardly therefrom;

a plurality of second support links pivotally connected to said tail ends and extending upwardly therefrom;

support means pivotally connected to the upwardly extending ends of said first and second support links;

drive means for imparting reciprocatable movement to said shaker beds relative to said support means; and

adjustment means cooperable with said shaker beds to vary the paths of reciprocatable movement thereof relative to said support means.

mounted on said frame and passing through threaded apertures formed in said support members, said adjustment shafts upon rotation thereof being operable to move said support members relative to said frame.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein a threaded adjustment shaft is disposed at both ends of each support member with rotational movement thereof being affected by a common actuation mechanism. 

1. In a shaker system including a plurality of shaker beds disposed in side-by-side relation and having head ends and tail ends, the combination comprising: a plurality of first support links pivotally connected to said head ends and extending upwardly therefrom; a plurality of second support links pivotally connected to said tail ends and extending upwardly therefrom; support members pivotally connected to the upwardly extending ends of said first and second support links; drive means including at least one pitman arm pivotally connected to each of said shaker beds for imparting reciprocatable movement thereto about substantially horizontal axes extending between the locations of pivotal interconnection between said support links and said support members; and adjustment means for moving said support members relative to the locations of interconnection between said pitman arms and said shaker beds whereby the paths of reciprocatable movement of said shaker beds may be selectively varied.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said shaker beds includes sidewaLls extending between said head ends and tail ends, said pitman arms being pivotally connected in pairs to said sidewalls at one end thereof, said pitman arms at the other end thereof being connected to eccentrics mounted on a rotatable drive shaft which impart reciprocatable movement to said pitman arms and said shaker beds, with said eccentrics connected with each pair of pitman arms being angularly offset on said drive shaft with respect to the eccentrics connected with the other pairs of said pitman arms so that movement of each of said shaker beds is out of phase with the movement of the other of said shaker beds.
 3. In a shaker system including a plurality of shaker beds disposed in side-by-side relation and having head ends and tail ends, the combination comprising: a plurality of first support links pivotally connected to said head ends and extending upwardly therefrom; a plurality of second support links pivotally connected to said tail ends and extending upwardly therefrom; support means pivotally connected to the upwardly extending ends of said first and second support links; drive means for imparting reciprocatable movement to said shaker beds relative to said support means; and adjustment means cooperable with said shaker beds to vary the paths of reciprocatable movement thereof relative to said support means.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said shaker system additionally comprises a frame, said support means comprising a plurality of support members extending across substantially the full width of said frame over said plurality of shaker beds with a first single support member pivotally connected to all of said first support links and a second single support member pivotally connected to all of said second support links.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said adjustment means comprises a plurality of threaded adjustment shafts mounted on said frame and passing through threaded apertures formed in said support members, said adjustment shafts upon rotation thereof being operable to move said support members relative to said frame.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein a threaded adjustment shaft is disposed at both ends of each support member with rotational movement thereof being affected by a common actuation mechanism. 